The social phobia substitute will not dream of the band girl

"...Excuse me, are you a maid?! This is the first time I've seen a real maid in real life—"

This Victorian maid's outfit is well-cut and made of exquisite fabrics. It has a perfect posture that will not make people feel rude no matter from which angle you look at it, and it has a perfect and elegant temperament.

You are definitely not 'actors' (cosplayers) from a maid cafe or some specialty store, but real maids, right?!

What's up with this kid, new guy?

I don't know, maybe it's the guest brought back by Lord Ping Xin?

So what should we do? There seems to be something wrong with this child.

...In short, we must not bring shame to the host family, so you guys just act according to the circumstances.

After a brief exchange of glances, the maid representative stepped forward. She was a tall, well-proportioned beauty wearing rimless glasses. Even without a word, Akane could sense her well-educated aura. Perhaps this was the "ultimate maid" she had imagined.

"We have abandoned our own names, but our merciful master has bestowed upon us new codenames. You may call me Alpha. I am the head maid here. May I ask what may be done for this unexpected visitor?"

"'Maid'? Isn't that a maid... Ah—er... My name is Murokasa Akane. I've always wanted to be a maid since I was little. I often cook and clean at home, but I'm definitely not as professional as you guys."

Hearing this, Alpha had already formed a basic assumption in her mind. It seemed that this child was just an avid maid enthusiast who didn't know much about Master Hiranobu. So she curtsied and said, "In this house, only Master Asuka Batoki can call herself a maid, because a maid is the closest to the master (Hiranobu).

We were merely handy "tools." If our master hadn't insisted on calling us "hey" or "that guy," we could have been "hey" or "that guy." While that might be a bit of a letdown, we weren't the beautiful, elegant maids you imagine. We were merely insignificant components of this household, a group of women known as the "shadow maids."

Goodbye, my unknown guest, and have a good time."

"Wait...wait!"

Murokasa Akane wanted to stop them but when she chased after them, there was no sign of anyone, as if everything that had just happened was just a daydream for her.

"Only the person closest to the master can be called a 'maid'..."

Murokasa Akane seemed to have realized something.

*Maid is a profession that dissolves into shadows (

Does anyone want to see a cat turn into a human? .jpg

Chapter 4000: The wonderful sense of distance in ordinary letters ()

After retrieving the data and conducting careful observation, the "shadow" maids hidden in various corners of the Heike mansion put down their polished and loaded weapons and returned to their respective posts. However, five of the six people sitting in front of the LCD TV playing party games were unaware of this.

"Ola Ola Ola—Pingxin, take this from me!"

"Hahaha, this is so interesting~ Hanarin, look, look! My character is stuck in the wall~"

"...A Saint won't be defeated twice by the same move. Take my hidden skill, Starburst, and then I'll kill you!"

"Explosion~ Explosion~ Hehehe——The festival begins~"

In addition to the arcade duo who love and hate each other, sitting on the carpet in front of the LCD screen are Asuna, who is enjoying herself as usual, and Murokasa Akane, who is inexplicably excited.

"Miss Karin... aren't you going to play with them?"

"I'm not good at playing games..."

..."Shi Xiao"? Why did she suddenly call him so affectionately? As Ping Xin's younger sister, Shi Xiao, who stayed away from social circles, wasn't socially anxious, but her emotional intelligence wasn't very high either, otherwise she would have felt a little more burdened.

"...I see—just call me Xiaoshi. After all, you're my brother's friends, and the only 'outsiders' he's brought back in all these years."

Asuka Matoki wanted to assert his sovereignty, but unexpectedly reminded Karin instead.

"First time...ah——"

It seems Hirayukoshi's past is even more mysterious than Karin could have imagined. Perhaps the wounds and suffering he's endured are beyond her imagination, and perhaps beneath his smile lies loneliness and uncertainty. But Karin won't ask. All she does is wait until he wants to speak, then sit quietly and listen. She's not as optimistic and cheerful as Asuna, who "can do anything," but there are things in this world that Karin can do that Asuna can't.

"Damn it—one more!"

"...That's just what I wish for."

The elementary school video game duo is still as harmonious and loving as ever. While they're having a blast and engaging themselves in the game, that doesn't mean they've forgotten their other friends. The worst thing to do in a large gathering is to neglect one person.

"Hara Rin, change! Change! It's your turn~"

Asuna wanted to share this joy with her usually silent friend, but after much defiance, Karin finally took the controller and sat next to Hirayukoshi. "Holding her left and right" put Hirayukoshi in a battlefield filled with fragrance. He had to admit he was starting to regret it; he shouldn't have let four of them in at once.

"Phew—I'm having so much fun after such a long time~ Is it your turn next, Miss Shi?"

After the game ended, Murokasa Akane quickly switched back to her usual elegant lady mode. Everyone silently ignored the fact that her smile just now, although as elegant and gentle as ever, inexplicably looked like a certain uneducated bomb-crazy cockroach mercenary. After all, who doesn't have a few unique hobbies?

Even a giant mushroom will eventually be controlled by someone.jpg

"...Thank you. Target confirmed. I've designated the small senior as an enemy unit."

"Hah? Are you looking down on me? Now I'll show you how powerful I am!"

Xiaoshi, who noticed Pingxin's thoughts, took the initiative to help him divide the battlefield, although about 7% of it was just because she simply wanted to have a fight with Nilu.

"Haha, it seems like these two could become good friends... Karin, are you okay with that? Since it looks like this is their first time playing, let them play on their own and we can go over there and practice."

"Um--"

Women are naturally detail-oriented; a single word from you could make them either burst into joy or fly into a rage. And at this moment, the usually lively and active Asuna was half-crouching behind a group of people, cheering them on happily. Her eyes gleamed softly, overflowing with endless happiness and joy.

It turns out that we are happiest when we are together!

Just watching is a bit boring for her.

"Azumane Azumane, let's go on an adventure!"

"Hey~ But it's really rude to wander into someone else's house, okay?"

After all, Hirashin's house is very big, so it's natural for Asuna to have such thoughts.

"That's it..."

Asuna's mood was low and she was in denial. Although she really wanted to go on a thrilling adventure in this castle-like house, Asuna hated being disliked by her friends even more than being bored. Just thinking about it made her feel a pang of unease in her chest.

"Well then... let me lead the way for you two. Since this is our first meeting, you can call us 'Shadows'."

The maids who suddenly appeared from behind the sofa were none other than the house's maids. They wore modified British-style maid uniforms that barely exposed any skin. Their heights and builds were so similar that even the house's owners, from a distance, often couldn't tell them apart. While their real names varied, they were all referred to as "Shadows."

Normally, they try not to appear in front of outsiders who come to this house, but meeting the needs of guests invited by the owner is also part of their job, so the "shadow" on duty appears here -

"Azane, look, it's a real 'maid'! But where did she come from? Maybe from a hidden passage~? Hmm..."

"Ah~ Then thank you for your help, my lovely maid~"

The maid who called herself "Shadow" bowed slightly, and Murokasa Akane returned the curtsy gracefully like a young lady, although this elegance seemed a little subtle when she was wearing a short skirt of her school uniform.

"Please don't be so polite. After all, our job is to take care of this master. Also, please call us maids or housekeepers (かせいふ). There is only one person in this house who can call herself a maid."

"Oh! Then let's go on an adventure~"

"...This very energetic young lady here seems to have some questions. As long as they are your questions, we will answer them within the scope of 'permission'-"

"Yeah! That's true. So, let me ask you something... Like, what's the most interesting thing about this place? Or what's the thing here that other places don't have? Oh, right!

Come to think of it, we've never seen Pingxin mention his parents before. Are they still working now?"

Question after question gradually increased the pressure on this "shadow". Could it be that her innocent look was all fake, and these three questions were tests?

"...Please ask that gentleman yourself. The answer we give may not be the truth."

"Eh—it's so complicated... Ping—x... Mmmmm."

Asuna's mouth was covered by another "shadow" that appeared behind her out of nowhere. Unable to make a sound, she could only blink.

"...Ms. Ichinose Asuna, I meant to ask you to ask him in person in private. I apologize for confusing you because my explanation was not straightforward enough."

After some thought, Shadow decided to proceed without any of the tedious riddlers. While his work at this mansion was more stable and comfortable than that of his colleagues outside, it seemed like these good times might only come to an end today.

Judging from this trend, no matter which one or several of these girls with good looks and figures are lucky enough to become the "third person", this curious baby Miss Asuna with many questions will definitely come here to visit often, and the insecure wooden man will try his best to meet all their needs.

The "shadow" lady, anticipating the doubling workload, hunched over a bit, then, forced to pull herself together because it was "on duty." Perhaps they should switch to the night shift. While reversing the day and night isn't good for the body, they're all professionally trained. It's much easier than toiling like a cow during the day and then just sitting around at night. Maybe then they can...

While she should have kept her distance, it was clear from the fact that all the chosen women were of decent appearance, well-proportioned figures, and healthy bodies. Furthermore, the people who had trained them had hinted at opportunities, encouraging them to seize them. However, that kind of advice, like "advice" from a leader, carried both risks and rewards, and if she wasn't careful, she could end up taking the blame, which was quite a headache.

While the "old folks" working in this mansion have all become somewhat "fluffy" due to the people they serve and the ease of their jobs, this younger "shadow" is one of the most corrupt. If it weren't for her professional (previous) and professional (generation) ethics (supervision), she would have long since disregarded all rules and boundaries and climbed into the master's bed. If she could, who wouldn't want to be a wealthy lady enjoying a beautiful and free life every day instead of being stuck here as a maid with no name during working hours?

"Ahem... Excuse me, it seems I'm a bit distracted due to fatigue from recent busy work. Could you please keep this a secret for me? In return, I can do you two a small favor within my duties."

Miss Shadow, realizing she'd been standing there distracted for a while, used her deft rhetoric to define the situation, while also reinforcing confidentiality. As for an adult who just said, "I'll tell you everything I know within my duty," wouldn't she feel ashamed to lie to a minor?

Do you think people who have thoughts like the one above might feel embarrassed?

"Then I want to see what real maids... oh no, it should be maids, look like when they work. It would be even better if you could teach me some practical tips. To be honest, I'm more interested in cleaning and cooking. Asuna, can you come too?"

Realizing that allowing Asuna more freedom might cause a stir for the maid and the other maids she hadn't met, Akane tactfully changed the subject, acting like a mature and elegant adult. When she'd been politely turned down earlier, Akane had understood that if she wanted to learn anything here, she could only rely on her status as "host" and "guest," but she still seemed to underestimate these maids whose lives depended on it.

"Thank you for your kindness, Miss Murokasa Akane. I am truly honored. If you truly desire, you can visit and experience this place in person. Please follow me—"

A calm woman, whose attire wasn't particularly unusual, the only noticeable difference being her glasses, emerged from the darkness. Honestly, don't you guys use lights during the day? Is it so they can easily appear and disappear at any time? It seems there's still a lot to learn about maids, Murokasa Akane thought.

"Wow! Another maid with glasses appears~ Um—in this case, it should be... a maid with glasses?"

"Yes, yes, call this old lady...ahhhhh——"

"Please wait a moment, I apologize..."

That seemingly unremarkable maid with glasses and a well-proportioned figure actually grabbed the lively maid's head with one hand and dragged her away? Her steps were steady, her smile gentle, and even while dragging someone, her posture was so graceful. Is this really what it takes to be an excellent maid?!

*Hello, it is not (

There were twinkling stars in the eyes of Murokasa Akane and Ichinose Asuna. Asuna, yearning for the perfect and elegant maid, seemed to have opened the door to a new world. As for Asuna... what bad intentions could Asuna have?

She simply thought that these two people were interesting and they seemed to have a good relationship.

A few seconds later, the maid with glasses returned to the two of them, still as dignified and elegant as when they first met. As for the sounds of flesh colliding and heavy objects falling in the darkness, they pretended not to hear them.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. The maid outfits tailored to your figures aren't ready yet, but I'm sure everyone will have one before you leave... Please come this way."

Putting aside why every maid knows their name upon meeting them for the first time, can figures really be measured at first sight? They shouldn't have told Hirayobu their measurements, right? Could this really be a basic quality for a maid? Surely someone who gets along so well with Asuna must have something "special," even someone as seemingly ordinary as Murokasa Akane.

......

"Asuina, Akane, how about we play a game that allows six people to play at the same time... Where are the others?"

Because Asuka Matoki and his comrade Miganelu hit it off immediately, Hiranobu let the two of them "communicate with each other" on their own and took Karin to try many different characters and other game types. In the end, he found that Karin still prefers cooperative level-breaking games compared to fighting games and racing games that focus on individual skills.

*Doesn’t it depend on who you play with?

After the four of them had been playing in front of the screen for a long time, Ping Xin finally remembered that two of his friends had been left out. This made him disqualified as the host, and he would have to make amends later...

"...They both look like they're trying to outdo each other. What does Karin plan to do?"

"I--"

"Don't rush to answer, think carefully first..."

Hiranobu placed his hand over hers, the same way he'd comforted his sister when she was little. For him, this act was like sharing their heartbeats, an act of empathy. For Karin, Hiranobu's gesture was just as clumsy yet genuine as his previous comforting gestures, and this small, unintentional gesture was the perfect proof.

"Well... I want to see Ping Xin's room!"

......

"...We've just visited the laundry and cleaning rooms. The kitchen is temporarily closed to the public for food safety reasons. Would you be interested in a massage?"

"Eh? Maids are also responsible for massages? That's amazing!"

"Yes. Until a while ago, due to the master's health, we had to take turns to perform body massages every day. After all, the master was a complete indoor person before."

I finally understand why Ping Xinjun has that strange sense of distance of "fearing others but not consciously making vocal or physical contact". It turns out that this is the problem!

It's natural that you would become like that if you have close contact with these beautiful maids with outstanding looks every day!

There are pictures here, which can be viewed after the updated version

Chapter 46: Ping Xin's Room

"Well then—I want to go see Ping Xin's room... Is that not okay?"

Hua Lin asked cautiously, and her slender hands, which subconsciously wanted to make some small movements to dispel the anxiety, received more warmth, but became more nervous and frightened.

My room... no, no, it doesn't have any R18 laptops, action figures, DVDs, or anything like that in it. After all, this world's technology is more advanced than the last world, and computers are much more convenient to use. After all, if I really want to hide it, I can just find a place to put it. There are so many empty rooms in this house anyway.

"...Sure - but my room should...probably...there's nothing special about it, right? I've never been to a room other than my family's, so if you see anything strange, don't laugh too much, okay?" Ping Xin replied.

Although the first booking phase of the "Invite Friends to Play at Home" series of projects did not include a room tour, this kind of thing is just like the author's outline. Anyway, the pen will move on its own when the time comes. It's also the so-called "plans can never keep up with changes -"

"...It's okay if you hide what you need to hide now, I won't mind. After all, you're also a teenage boy, Heishin—"

"Let's go... Come to think of it, this is the first time I've invited a friend to my room. It's really nice of you to say it, Karin."

At least Karin gave Hirayuko a sense of security that she wouldn't blame him even if something went wrong. They were both the type who preferred to reflect rather than blame others, although the way they expressed it was very different.